Bottle-cap printing and making machine



June 16, 1925.

' J. STASZAK ET AL BOTTLE CAP PRINTING AND MAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 29, 1925 .R 5 0 MS W mm m mm B 2 S k0 Q 9 00 I 3 N an 9% nm on June 16, 1925, 1,542,482 J- STASZAK ET AL BOTTLE CAP PRINTING AND MAKINGIACHINE Filed Dec. 29 1&3; QSheats-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

' .4 TTORN E YS.

Jime 16, 1925.

J. STASZAK ET AL BOTTLE CAP PRINTING AND MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A TTORNEYS.

a9 t. M

Patented June 16, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN STASZAK AND FRANK SZTUKO WSKI, 0F GUDAHY, WISCONSIN.

BOTTLE-CAP PRINTI G AND MAKING MACHINE.

Application filed December 29, 1923. Serial No. 683,425.

Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have 111- vented certain new and useful Improvements in BottleCap Printing and Making Machines, of which the following is a specification. i f

The invention relates to .a cardboard disk marking and cutting mechanism, and .more especially to the'class of bottle cap printing and making machines. 7.

The primary ob 'ect of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character, wherein strip cardboard is. fed into position to first be printed to'bear the required identitication data, andf-this'printing being effected in independent groups of varying colored ink, then these groups of the printed portions of the cardboard being cut into disk form to constitute. bottle caps, which are subsequently coated with a waterproofing material to render the same liquid resisting and sanltary, and finally massed 0r stacked for packagin and the delivery thereof from the machine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character, wherein the printing mechanism is automatically inkedand the electrotype printing plates interchangeably and removably mounted in said mechanism, while the waterproof coating mechanism is of novel form, and the massing or stacking mechanism of unique construction.

A further ob'ect of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character,

wherein the mechanisms for effecting the various steps of the printing and cutting of the bottle caps, and also the massing and stacking thereof, are actuated and timed for successive operation tojassure the automatic continuous'working of the machine as a unit. I

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character, wherein the same in its entirety is of novel construction, thoroughly reliable and etficient in operation, strong, durable and com-' parativelyinexpensive to manufacture and install. Y I

Other objects will bein part obvious and in p t he e a t r Pai ted ut The improvements in details and arrange ment of parts will be apparent from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in connection with the specific description thereinafter contained, and wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed forthe purpose ofimparting a full understanding of the same.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1, is a transversely broken side elevation of the machine constructed in accordance, with the invention.

Figure 2, is a vertical longitudinal sectional elevation of the same.

Figure 3, is a'vertical transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 33.of Figure 1.

Figure 4, is an end elevation.

Figure 5, is a top plan view of the machine.

Figure 6, is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view showing in detail the waterproof coating and massing and stacking mechanisms of the machine.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view on the line 77 of Figure 2. i

Figure 8, is a fragmentary detail sectional View through the rack bar, showing the rack pinion in mesh engagement therewith. Similar reference characters indicate corresponding par-ts throughout the several views in the drawings.

' Referring to the drawings in detail, A, designates generally the table or stand of the machine, and includes spaced vertical legs 10, and horizontally disposed spaced longitudinal side sills 11, supported by the latter, said sills being preferably of I-beam shape in cross section and are bolted or otherwise secured to the legs to form a unitary structure.

Above the table or stand A, at one end thereof and extending for a distance over the same is a superposed deck 12, constituting a printing and cutting bed 13,. the same being supported by uprights or columns 14: and 15, respectively, rising from opposite sides of the table or stand. Atthe feed end of thetable or stand A, and suitably journaled between the sills 11, thereof is a guide roll 16, over which is adapted to be'trained the strip of cardboard ,17, which is also passed over an upper guide roller 18, journaled between the columns 14:, at the feed endlof the deck 12, and this ca d o fi fed onto the bed 13, by means of the feed roll 19 and tension or presserroll 20, respectively, the latter being journaled in bearings 21, while the shaft 22, of the feed roll 19, is journaled in the side bars 23, of thedeck 12.

Suitably secured to and rising from the deck 12, are pairs of spaced cross-head guides 24, for a vertically movable cross head 25, which is fitted with upper and lower rollers 26, 27, working directly against actuating cams 2S and 29, respectively, which are fast upon a driven shaft 30, journal ed at 31, in. bearing caps 32, mounted on the guides 24, the shaft 30 being fitted at one end with a beveled pinion 33, meshing with acompanion gear 3 1, onthe main shaft 35, disposed transversely of the deck 12, and journaled in the columns 15, the said shaft 35,-being fitted with the usual fly wheel and belt pulley 36, over which latter is adapted to be trained a belt (not-shown) operated from any suitable source of power for actuating the machine.

The cross head 25, carries aseries of electrotype holders 38, on each of which is removably iitted an electrotype 39, for the printing of the cardboard 17, in a manner presently described; li'iounted on the cross head 25, inwardly of the series of holders 38, is a series of disc punches or cutters 1-0, and a shearing blade l1, the lat ter being designed to shear the scrap from the cardboard strip 17, while the punches or cutters are adapted to cut the disk bottle caps 42, from the cardboard strip in the operation of the machine.

Upon the bed 13, of the deck 12, is a printing platen-4L3, for'the cardboard strip 17, while transversely of said platen on opposite sides of the printing area thereof are guide tracks 14:, for airinking device, including spaced inking rollers (15, and an intermediate distributing roller 16, these rollersbeing mounted in a carriage 47, which is adapted to traveltracksC A, when shifted transversely of the platen to play against an ink spreading plate48, removably supported in th e cross head guides 24:, above the tracks 44, the plate being formed with suitable openings for the electrotype holders 38, to permit the electrotypes 39, to print the cardboard 17, when the cross head 25, is lowered for this purpose.

At one side edge of the spreading plate 18, is an inkfont e9, having therein an ink supply roll 50, to furnish ink to the inking rolls 45, the carriage 47, being connected with sprocket chains 51, engaged over sprocket wheels 52, journaled in supports 53, projecting laterally from opposite sides of the deck 12, and on one of the journals of Jair of the sprocket wheels 52, is a rack pinion 54-,with which meshes a rack bar 55, eccentrically connected through the medium of a wrist-pin 56, with gear wheel 5'7, mounted on one end of a counter shaft journaled in the caps 32, and this gear 57, meshes -with a pinion 59, carried on the shaft 30, so that motion from the latter is imparted to the rack bar 55, which in its reciprocating movement effects the back and forth movement of the inking device, as will be' apparent.

On the main shaft 35 is an eccentric 60, embraced by an eccentric strap 61, carried at one end of shift rod 62, the saine'being connected at its other end with one arm of a bell-crank lever (33, mounted on a stud 64, at one side of the deck 12, for melting movement, the other arm of this crank lever 63, being connected with a slide rod 65, carrying a resil ent hook like dog 66, which is adapted to co-act with a ratchet wheel 67, fixed to the journal or shaft 22 of the feed roll 19, so that the latter is intermittently moyed to feed the cardboard in a step by step manner on the platen 43, as will be obvious.

Arranged between the sills 11, of the table or stand A, at the delivery end portion thereof is a conveyor, including a pair of spaced endless sprocket chains 68, which are trained over sprocket wheels 69, the journals 70, of which have their hearing in the sills 1.1. and one of these journals 70, exteriorly of the table or stand carries a ratchet wheel 71, with which engages a resilient hook like dog- 72, mounted on the end of a shiftable rod 73, which has its other end pivoted to an intermediate arm 7 1, of the bell-crank lever 63, and in this manner a step by step movement is imparted to the conveyor, the dog 72, being held in positive engagement with the ratchet wheel 71, through the medium of the retaining spring 75, 'as'is shown in Figure 1, of the drawings.

The opposed links of the chains 63, have connected therewith transversely disposed flights 76, so that said pair of chains are connected together, while carried on'each flight 76, is a series of disk receivers 77, for retaining disks deposited therein in a manner presently described.

Supported by cross pieces 78, suitably mounted in the table or stand A, are separator strips 79, which serve to maintain the disks in'rows when being moved by the conveyor, these strips 79, being spaced from each other and disposed longitudinally of the table or stand, as shown in Figure 5, of the drawings.

Above the inner end of the conveyor and supported upon the top edges of the sills 11, of the table or stand A, is a tray 80, in the bottom portion of which is arranged suitable heating units 81, while within this tray is held a tank 82, containing a waterproofing liquid, for example parafline, the units 81, being designed to maintain the con- Located between the lower halves of, the

rolls83, is a dispensing chute. 84, which re-' ceives the diskswhenpassing from between the -rolls 83, and delivering them into the receivers 77, the lower portion of the said chute being so constructed and formed to properly deliver the disks, as is clearly shown in Figure 6, of the drawings.

The supply roll 50, within the ink font 4-9, on its journal exteriorly of the latter, has mounted thereon a, ratchet wheel 85, with which engages a ratchet pawl '86, carried upon a ratchet lever 87 the same being swingingly supportedfo'n the journal of said roll 50, and this lever is also connected through the medium of a link 88, with the cross head 25, so. that when the latter is moved the ink supply roll 50 will be actuated for the delivery of ink from the font onto the inking roller 45.

. Depending from the bed 13 of the deck 12, is a delivering spout 89, while the tank 82, beneaththelatter has a tip 90, which is disposed directlyb'etween the coating rolls 83, and is in registerrwith the said spout 89, to deliver disks between said rolls 83,

,for the coating thereof with waterproofing material in the'form of liquid. The spout 89, has form'edtherein staggered reversely inclined chutes 91 and 92,'respectively, which communicate with the circular openings 93, for the punches or cutters 40, and 'these chutes present rocker ledges 94:, thereinto tilt the disks 4.2,jfalling therein from the openings 93, so that the printed sides of said disks will face toward the left-hand roll 83, and as the disks pass between both rolls 83, they will be directed tangentially into the lower chute 8 1, whence the said disks will bedischarged onto the conveyor. Carried bythe main sliaft'35 is a sprocket wheel 95, over which is trained a sprocket chain 96, the same being also trained over a sprocket wheel 97, carried by, the journal 98, of one'of the coating rolls 83:, so that the same will be positively driven from the main shaft. Connected with the delivery endof the table or stand A, is a massing or groupin platform 99, having runways 100. Forms thereon, are packaging mouth tubes .101, over each of which is adapted to be slipped a carton 102, whereby the massed disks can be introduced therein expeditiously by an attendant, the massed disks 42, being grouped in preferably five hundred lots, and

separated by removableflblocks 103, as is in Figure 6, of thedrawings.

The journals of the coating rolls 83, exteriorly of the tank 82, at its side opposite the location of, the sprocket wheel 97, carry meshing gears .104, so that the rolls 823, rotate in unison in reverse directions to each other, for the feeding of the disks 4L2 there between, as will be apparent. I

'At the delivery end of the table or stand A, is mounted a fingered pick up plate 105, which is designed to straighten and pick up the'disks from'the receivers 77, as the conveyor; travels, to bring said disks onto the platform 99, for the automatic stackingv and massing thereof, as is shown in Figure 6, of the drawings.

Beneath the shearing blade 41, and formed on the deck 12, is'a scrap'discharging incline 106, for the waste material cut from the cardboard strip after the disks have been cut therefrom. v V The platform 100, is supported by a prop or leg 107, which is fastened at 108, to a de pending bracket 109, on the underside of the platform.

The tank 82, for the waterproof liquid 6 110, is preferably covered with asbestos or other insulating material 111, to enable the heat 'to be retained within the tank and thereby maintain the. liquid at the proper fluidity, while the tray 80, carries a suitable thermometer 1.12, tofde't'ermine the degree of heat within the tank,-tlie heating units 81, being controlled in any suitable manner to regulate the heat. The coating rolls 83, are of hollow formation and likewise their j ournals 98, .to. permit the introduction of suit able heating elements therein should the occasion require. i v 7 The machine is equipped with a suitable commercial counter 128, having an audible signal such as a bell 114, the counter being constructed'and arranged to sound its signal when five hundred disks 4-2, have been massed or grouped, and the conveyor has exactlyone hundred flights 76, in its entire length, while one of these flights is suitably marked in a conspicuous manner and the signal is so timed to sound when the marked flight is in view. The attcndant or operator of the machine can then place a tag of suitable character under the disk 412 in the receiver 77, containing the same on the marked flight. hen the tag is in an up-' right position in the guide way 100, on the platform'99, the disks l2, are separated at the location of the tag and the block 103, in-

' serted between the groups of disks, and the ink, the el ectrotypeho-l der 38, and punchesAO,

being arranged in rows'of four in number transversely of the machine. The first two rows of four electrotypes 3 9, transversely of the printing bed 13, have'one color of ink applied thereto, while the remaining group or series of electrotypes have another color of ink applied thereto, so that the cardboard 17, will be printed in two colors, yet this may be changed at the option of the user of the machine.

i In the operation of the machine the same takes the cardboard strip 17, which is trained overthe rollers 16 and 18, respectively, and delivered to the bed 13, the feed roll 19, and tension or presser roll 20, whereupon it is printed by the electrotypes 39, and subsequently cut into disks 42, by the punches 40, the disks being discharged into the chutes 91 and 92, respectively, and thence between the rolls 83, where the same are covered with a waterproof substance, and thereafter are discharged into the receivers 77,011 the conveyor, which latter carries the disks 42, to the pick up plate 105, and these disks are finally massed and separated by the blocks 103, into groups of five hundred each, for delivery throughthe tubes 101, into cartons 102, for the packaging thereof by another machine.

It is of course understood that the various operating parts of the machine are properly timed'to assure the successful working of the same, and a continuity of operation. What is claimed is:

i 1. A machine of the character described,

comprising a stand, a decksupported above ,he stand at one end thereof andhavin'g a printing bed, guides rising from the deck, a cross-head movably mounted between the guides, electrotype holders on the crosshead, detachable'electrotypes on the holders,'an ink spreading plate above the bed and through which move the electrotypes, inking mechanism movable over the plate, means for feeding cardboard over the bed, guides on the stand and deck for the card board, means for cutting the cardboard into disk forms at the printed areas thereof, means for actuating the cross-head, and mechanism for coating the disks with a waterproofing substance.

2. A machine of the character described, comprising a stand, a deck supported above the stand at one end thereof and having a printing bed, guides rising from the deck, a eross-head movably mounted between the guides, electrotype holders onthe crosshead, detachable electrotypesbn the holders, an ink spreading plate above the bed and through which the electrotypes imove, inking mechanism movable over the plate, means for feeding a cardboard strip over the bed, guides onthe stand and deck for the cardboard strip, meansfor cutting the cardboard strip into disk forms at the printed areas thereof, means for actuating the cross-head, mechanism for Coating the disks with a waterproofing substance, and mechanism for conveying the disks successively and massing the same.

' 3, A'machine ofrthe character described, comprising a stand, a deck supported above the stand at one end thereof and having a printing "bed, guides rising from the deck, a cross-head movably mounted between the guides, (electrotype holders on the crosshead, detachable electrotypes on the hold erfs, an ink spreading plate above the bed and through which move the electrotypes, inking mechanism movable over the plate, means for feeding a cardboard strip over the bed, guides on the stand and deck for the cardboard strip, means for cutting the cardboard strip into disk forms at the printed areas thereof, means for actuating the'cross-head, mechanism for coating the disks with a waterproofing substance, mechanism for conveying the disks successively and massing the same, and means for separating the massed disks into groups of pre determined numbers.

"4. A machine of the character described, comprising a stand, a deck supported above the stand at one end thereof, and having a printing bed, guides rising from the deck, a cross-head movably mounted between the g lii'des, electrotype holders on the crosshead, detachable electrotypes on the holders, and ink spreading plate above the bed and through which move the electrotypes, inking mechanism movable over the plate, means for feeding a cardboard strip over the bed, guides on the stand and deck for the cardboard strip, means for cutting the cardboard strip into disk forms at the printed areas thereof, means for actuating the cross-head, mechanism for coating the disks with a waterproofing substance, mechanism for conveying the disks successively and massing the same, means for separating the massed disks into groups of predetermined numbers, and means for actuating the inking mechanism.

5. A machine of the character described, comprising a stand, a deck above the stand at one endthereof, and having a printing bed, guides rising from the deck, a crosshead movably mounted between the guides, electrotype holders on the cross-head, detachable electrotypes on the holders, an ink spreading plate above the bed and through which move the electrotypes, inking mechanism movable over the plate, means for feeding a cardboard strip over the bed, guides on the stand and deck for the cardboard strip, means for cutting the card- .board strip into disk forms at the printed areas thereof, means for actuating the crosshead, mechanism for coating the disks with a waterproofing substance, mechanism for conveying the disks successively and massing the same, means for separating the massed disks into, groups of predetermined numbers, means for actuatingthe inking mechanism, and means operated-by'the'cross head for supplying ink to the inking mechan'ism.

6. A machine ofthe character described, comprising a stand, a deck above the stand at one end thereof, and having a printing bed, guides rising from thadeck, a crosshead movably mounted between the guides, electrotype holders on thecross-head, detachable electrotypes on the holders, an ink spreading plate above the bed and through which move the electrotypes, inking mech anism movable over the plate, means for feeding a cardboard strip over the bed, guides on the stand and deck for the cardboard strip, means for cutting the cardboard strip into disk forms at the printed areas thereof, means for actuating the cross head, mechanism for conveying the disks successively and massing the same,

means 'forseparating the massed disks into groups of predetermined numbers, means for actuating the inking mechanism, means operated by the cross head for supplying ink to the inking mechanism, and for shearing the scrap from'the cardboard strip.

7. A machine of the character described, comprising a stand, a deck above the stand at one end thereof, and having aprinting bed, guides rising from the deck, a cross head movably mounted between the guides,

electrotype holders on the cross head, detachableelectrotypes on the holders, an ink spreading plate above the bed and through which move the electrotypes, inking mechanism movable over, the plate, means for feeding a cardboard strip over the bed, guides on the stand and deck for thecardboard strip, means for cutting the cardboard strip into disk forms at the printed areas thereof, means for actuating the cross head, mechanism for conveying the disks successively and massing the same, means for separating the massed disks into groups of predetermined numbers, means for actuatingthe inking mechanism, means operated by the cross head for supplying ink to the inking mechanism, means for shearing the scrap'from the cardboard strip, and means for injecting the grouped disks into cartons for packaging thereof.

8. A machine of the character described, comprising a stand, a deck above the stand at one end thereof, and having a printmg bed, guides rising from the deck, a cross head movably mounted between the guides, electrotype holders on the cross head, detachable electrotypes on the holders, an ink spreading plate above the bed and through which move the electrotypes, inking mechanism movable over theplate, means for feeding a cardboard strip over the bed, guides on the stand and deck for the cardboard st *ip into disk forms at the printing areas thereof, means for actuating the cross head, mechanism for conveying the disks successively and I massing the same, means for separating the massed disks into groups of predetermined numbers, means for actuating the inking mechanism, -means operated by the cross head for. supplying ink to the inking mechanism, means for shearing the scrap from the cardboard strip, means for injecting the grouped disks into cartons for packaging thereof, mechanism for coating the disks with a waterproofing. substance and heating means for the coating mechanism.

9. A machine of the character described, comprising a stand, a deck above the same, and having a printing bed, guides rising from the deck, a cross head movably mounted between the guides, electrotype holders on the cross head, detachable electrotypes on the holders, an ink spreading plate above the bed, and through which move the electrotypes, inking mechanism movable over the plate, means for feeding a cardboard strip over the bed, guides on the stand and deck for the cardboard strip,

meansfor cutting the strip into disk forms at the printed areas thereof, means for actuating the cross head,"mechanism for conveying the disks successively and massing the same, means for separating the massed disks into groups of predetermined numbers, means for actuating the inking mechanism, means operated by the cross head for supplying ink to the inking mechanism, means for shearing the scrap from the cardboard strip, means for injecting the grouped disks into cartons for packaging thereof,. mechanism for coating the disks with a waterproofing substance, heating means for the coating mechanism, and mechanism for actuating the feeding means, coating mechanism and conveyor mechanism.

10. A machine of the character described, comprising a stand. a deck above the stand, and having a printing bed, guides rising from the deck, a cross head movably mounted between the guides, electrotype holders on the cross head, detachableelectrotypes on the holders, an ink spreading plate above the bed and through which move the electrotypes, inking mechanism movable over the plate, means for feeding a cardboard strip over the bed, guides on the stand and deck for the cardboard strip, means for cutting the strip into disk forms at the printed areas thereof, means for actuating the cross head, mechanism for conveying the disks successively and massing the same, means for separating the massed disks into groups of predetermined numbers, means for actuating the inking mechanism, means operated by the cross head for 6 image supplying ink to the' inking mechanism, nism and conveyor mechanism, and disk means for shearing the scrap from the cardretaining means for the conveyor niecha- 10 board strip, means for injecting the grouped nism. V

disks into cartons; for packaging thereof, In testimony whereof We aflix our signamechanism for coating the disks with ,a tures.

Waterproofing substance, heating means for V the coating mechanism, mechanism for 210- JOHN STASZAK.

tuating' the feeding means, coating mecha- FRANK SZTUKOXVSKL 

